The Professional Certificate in Education (equivalent to LLS:DTLLS) and Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (equivalent to LLS:DTLLS) are teacher training programmes written by the University of Greenwich.

The programmes are offered by St Vincent College as distance learning courses and all trainees are registered with the University of Greenwich as trainees on flexible mode study.

Trainees are supported by a Distance Learning Tutor at St Vincent College plus a workplace Mentor. We also organise four Saturday Study Days based around the course.

The PGCE / PCE programmes are made up of eight courses over two years. The courses are at level HE1 (QCF Level 4) and level HE 2 (QCF Level 5). Trainees will study four courses in the first registered year of study and four within the second registered year of study.

Entrance Requirements

1. You should be employed in an organisation in a teaching or training capacity with responsibility for your own class. 

2. You should have at least 150 hours of teaching/training over two years (with a minimum of 30 hours in year 1)

3. You should formally assess your own students’ coursework and/or assignments.

4. You should have an up to date CRB check

Awards

In order to gain the award of Professional Graduate Certificate in Education/ Professional Certificate in Education (LSS:DTLLS) a trainee must successfully complete all eight courses within the programme.

In addition, there will be eight assessments of practical teaching, for which all essential skills must be achieved by the end of Phase / Year 1 in order to proceed to Phase / Year 2 and all developmental skills must be achieved by the end of Phase / Year 2 to gain the award for which registered.  Trainees with APL qualifications may be exempted from one or more of these assessments which apply at level 1.

Programme Aims

To provide an initial training of a high quality for practising and intending teachers and trainers in Learning and Skills Sector;

To provide teacher education which is flexible, supportive, challenging and rewarding;

To respond to the changing needs and requirements of employers in the Learning Skills Sector;

To encourage the growth of professionalism in the Learning Skills Sector through the active promotion of professional values.

Programme Learning Outcomes 

At the conclusion of the programme, trainees will be able to:

• teach competently within their subject specialist area in appropriate settings;

• reflect critically on a range of professional issues and practices;

• engage constructively with their responsibilities as employees;

• take responsibility for identifying their own continuing professional development and seeking to create their own learning opportunities.

Programme Structure and Content

Courses offered within the PGCE / PCE / Certificate in Teaching Competence are designed at either university level 1 or level 2.  The Academic Regulations of the University describe these levels of study as follows:

Learning experience at level 1 involves the acquisition of basic knowledge, skills, and competence and is characterised by:

•  raising awareness of
•  introducing to
•  beginning to develop
•  exploring
•  describing
•  beginning to recognise

Level 2 builds on level 1 and involves an extension and reinforcement of those experiences, i.e.:

•  increasing awareness of
•  developing greater/deeper understanding
•  observing and reflecting on
•  beginning to analyse (formally)
•  beginning to recognise (and classify)
•  exploring and reflecting on

PGCE /  PCE Programmes - Which one's for me?

Trainees with a degree, or degree equivalence, will ordinarily follow the PGCE programme.  Non-graduates will follow the PCE programme.